Agenda and minutes

Licensing Sub Committee - Tuesday 18th June 2024 10.15 am

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Offices

Contact: Democratic Services (Direct Line 01992 564243)  Email:  democraticservices@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

7.

Webcasting Introduction

This meeting is to be webcast and the Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone that this meeting will be filmed live or recorded, and uploaded to the internet and will be capable of repeated viewing.

Therefore, by participating in this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

If any public speakers on MS Teams do not wish to have their image captured, they should ensure that their video setting throughout the meeting is turned off and set to audio only.

Members and public speakersare reminded to turn on their microphones before speaking and turn them off when they have finished”.

 

 

Minutes:

The Chairman made a short address to remind everyone present that the meeting would be recorded and would be capable of repeated viewing on the internet, which could infringe their human and data protection rights.

8.

Declarations of Interest

To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

Minutes:

Pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor L Mead declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item of the agenda as she recognised an objector who was from the Loughton Residents Association. The Councillor determined that she would remain in the meeting for the consideration and determination of the application:

 

·     New premises licence – Debden House Centre, Debden Green, Loughton IG10 2NZ

9.

Procedure for the Conduct of Business pdf icon PDF 78 KB

To note the adopted procedure for the conduct of business by the Sub-Committee.

 

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee noted the agreed procedure for the conduct of business and the Terms of Reference.

10.

Re-order of agenda items

Minutes:

The Licensing Sub-Committee agreed to bring forward the Taxi Driver applications before the new premises licence for the Debden House Centre because there were several objectors attending, who wished to speak on the licensing application.

11.

Exclusion of Public and Press

Exclusion: To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

 

Agenda Item No

Subject

Exempt Information Paragraph Number

6

Application for a Taxi Drivers Licence for Mr R Uddin

1

7

Application for a Taxi Drivers Licence for Mr R Rahman

 

1

8

To determine wether the driver remains fit and proper

1

 

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

 

Background Papers:  Article 17 - Access to Information, Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

 

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

 

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

 

The Council will make available for public inspection for four years after the date of the meeting one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers.

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or were confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

 

Agenda Item No

Subject

Exempt Paragraph

Information Number

 

 

 

6

Application for a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence – Mr Uddin

1

 

 

 

7

Application for a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence – Mr Rahman

1

 

 

 

8

To determine whether driver remains fit and proper – Mr Urhan

1

 

12.

Application for a Taxi driver licence

To consider an application for a Hackney Carriage driver's licence

Minutes:

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence from Mr Uddin. The three councillors that presided over this item were Councillors P Keska (Chairman), S Heather and L Mead. The Chairman welcomed the applicant and introduced the members and officers present.

 

The Licensing Compliance Officer, D Houghton, informed the Sub-Committee of the circumstances under which the licence could not be dealt with under delegated authority.

 

The applicant made a short statement in support of his application before answering questions from members of the Sub-Committee.

 

The Chairman requested that everyone, except the Licensing Sub-Committee members and advising officers left the chamber whilst they considered the application.

 

The Chairman invited the applicant and Licensing Officer back into the chamber and informed the applicant of the Sub-Committee’s decision.

 

The Chairman advised that during their deliberations no advice was given by officers. This application had been treated on its own merits. The Sub-Committee had taken its decision based upon the information given in the report and to this hearing, the relevant representations received and the Council’s policies. The applicant was reminded of his right of appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days of the date of the written notification of this decision.

 

            Resolved:

 

            That the application for Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence was not granted.

13.

Application for a Taxi driver licence

To consider an application for a Hackney Carriage driver's licence

Minutes:

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence from Mr Rahman. The three councillors that presided over this item were Councillors P Keska (Chairman), S Heather and L Mead. The Chairman welcomed the applicant and introduced the members and officers present.

 

The Licensing Compliance Officer, D Houghton, informed the Sub-Committee of the circumstances under which the licence could not be dealt with under delegated authority.

 

The applicant made a short statement in support of his application before answering questions from members of the Sub-Committee.

 

The Chairman requested that everyone, except the Licensing Sub-Committee members and advising officers left the chamber whilst they considered the application.

 

The Chairman invited the applicant and Licensing Officer back into the chamber and informed the applicant of the Sub-Committee’s decision.

 

The Chairman advised that during their deliberations no advice was given by officers. This application had been treated on its own merits. The Sub-Committee had taken its decision based upon the information given in the report and to this hearing, the relevant representations received and the Council’s policies. The applicant was reminded of his right of appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days of the date of the written notification of this decision.

 

Resolved:

 

That the application for Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence was not granted.

14.

To determine whether driver remains fit and proper

To determine whether an existing Hackney Carriage driver's remain fit and proper

Minutes:

The Licensing-Sub Committee could not consider this item as the taxi driver was not in attendance. The Licensing Compliance Officer advised the taxi driver would be contacted and asked to attend a future Sub-Committee meeting.

15.

Inclusion of Public and Press

To invite the public and press back into the meeting for the remaining items of business.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the public and press be invited back into the meeting for the remaining item of business.

16.

Application for a New Premises Licence, Debden House Centre, Debden Green, Loughton, IG10 2NZ pdf icon PDF 127 KB

To determine an Application for a New Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for the Debden House Centre, Debden Green, Loughton. The three councillors that presided over this item were Councillors P Keska (Chairman), S Heather and L Mead. Also in attendance were Councillor I Allgood and the Council’s Legal Services Manager, N Boateng.

 

The Chairman welcomed from the London Borough of Newham the applicant and Head of Debden House Centre, Ms S Brown, who was accompanied by Mr P Gibb, Head of Education. The objectors present were T Lomas, Mr & Mrs Harragan and Mr & Mrs Cain.

 

The Licensing Compliance Officer, H Ibrahim, introduced the new premises licence application in respect of Debden House Centre, Debden Green, Loughton IG10 2NZ. The authority had received representations from The City of London (Epping Forest Office), Loughton Town Council and 16 residents, which related to the four licensing objectives.

 

The applicant was applying for the following licensable activities:

 

Provision of film - 10:00 to 00:00 Monday to Sunday

Provision of live music (outside) - 10:00 to 23:00 Monday to Sunday

Provision of live music (inside) - 10:00 to 01:00 Monday to Sunday

Provision of recorded music (outside) - 10:00 to 23:00 Monday to Sunday

Provision of recorded music (inside) - 10:00 to 01:00 Monday to Sunday

Provision of late night refreshment - 23:00 to 01:00 Monday to Sunday

Sale of alcohol (on and off sales) - 11:00 to 00:00 Monday to Sunday

The opening hours of the premises - 09:00 to 01:00 Monday to Sunday

 

The applicant outlined the licensable activities she wanted at Debden House, which had been purchased by the London Borough of Newham in 1947. The main house was open all year round while the campsite operated for 75 days of the year. All events were managed by the Centre and the proposed licensable activities would allow the Centre to sell alcohol and have music entertainment. The Centre had increased the signage on site, managed any litter and the dispersal policy helped vehicles to safely exit the site. The Centre’s activities should not disrupt properties nearby, but the applicant had given neighbouring residents an out-of-hours telephone number to use if it was required. Essex Police had not objected to the application.

 

The Sub-Committee asked questions related to noise inside and outside the Centre and the possible installation of a noise limiter. The applicant clarified a noise limiter would monitor noise inside the house. EFDC Environmental Officers were due to carry out a check on noise soon. Outside in the garden there was a marquee and the café area in the campsite. The Licensing Compliance Officer advised that outside music was being applied for and a plan in the agenda highlighted the site. Also, music between 08.00 and 23.00 was deregulated. The applicant clarified that people could not book the venue online but had to phone the office, so staff could check the suitability of the event. A damage deposit was required. The DBS had now received his licence. The previous licence had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.